Method of converting rough metal into molded parts



5, 1935- v I J. QUINN ETAL ,019, 2

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug.- 8, 1931 9Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 3 avwewcoza, d- Gm H N E-IZNaK-nH .No v. 5, 1935. JQUINN r AL 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1931 9Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS J-QU\NN EVrMAR-HN Nov. 5, 1935. J. QUINN ET! AL2,019,727

METHOD OF CQNVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 193l 9Sheets-Sheet 3 snow wow d- QLMHH E-VMaK-n H Nov. 5, 1935. .1. QUINN ETAL I 2,019,727

I METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO. MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 19519 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 'fmmmw Nov, 5, 1935 J. QUINN El AL 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Au 8, 1931 9Sheets-Sheet 5 awocml oza -Q INN E7 R'TIH Q1 for/1401 Nevis, T935.

J. QUINN El L METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS FiledAug. 8, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fae-1J5 a'vwembow' \J QUINH a E12 N FIKTIHOT/VLQ idr v Nov. 5, 1935. J. QUINN r-:r AI. 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED 'FARTS Filed Aug. .8, .19319 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fieua awumtom 'J-QUIHH E-VMGIRT '1 1935. J. QUINN ET AL2,019,727 H METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug8, 1951 S ShQetS-Sheet 8 lie-.20

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NOV. 5, 1935. J, QUINN ET L 2,019,727

maon OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL- INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1931 9Sheets-Sheet 9 Yea awumto'w d-QUIHN E 7MeR-ru-| 6141mm Q bizw PatentedNov. 5, 1%35 FKETHOD (19F CONVERTING ROUGH rm'ran llN'JlO MOLDED PARTS.lianies Quinn, East Orange, and Edwin D. Martin,

West Orange, N. 3., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Thomas A.Edison, Incorporated, West Grange, N. 3., a corporation of New JerseyApplication August 8, 1931, Serial No. 555,916

' 26 Claims. (Cl. 22-73) This invention relates to means forautomatically conveying pig and/or scrap metaL-and for the purpose ofthis application it is to be understood that lead is the metal that isbeing con- 5 sidered-to a break-down'or melting pot or pots,

automatically holding the metal in the system to a constant level, andconveying this molten metal to casting machine pots closely adjacent tothe casting machines, from which casting. pots the metalis automaticallyconveyed to the casting machines, which in turn function automaticallybut under the control or observation of an operator; the amount of pigmetal automatically fed to the melting pots being only that necessaryfor a given rate of production over and .above the amount of scrapautomatically returned from the trimming operation. Furthermore, thepouring head for the casting machine is specially constructed whereby anextremely small surface of the molten metal is exposed to the air,thereby reducing the oxidation of the molten lead to a minimum. This isa decided advantage in the manufacturing process to be herein described.

After the piece has been cast; for example, a storage battery grid, thesame is automatically ejected from the machine and conveyed to atrimming apparatus where it is automatically taken'irom the conveyor andpassed through the trimming apparatus, at which place it is relieved ofits gates, fins, or excess material, and the grid is then automaticallyconveyed to and piled in a storage magazine, while the scrap is conveyedto the melting pot or pots. Means are provided at the exit of thetrimming press, whereby an inspecter can cause a rejected grid to beautomatically ejected from the line and returned to a conveyor leadingto a melting pot.

It is therefore the principal object of our invention to provide anapparatus for automatically doing all the various operations previouslyreferred to, by which the raw material, whether in pig or scrap form, iscarried through the different steps and finally delivered as a completepart, thus reducing the cost of manufacturing such an article, as thegrid for a storage battery plate. 1

While attaining the principal object of our inventionin the manner whichwill be hereinafter set forth in detail, other and ancillary objectswill be clear to one skilled in this art, from a reading of thespecification taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a general plan of the arrangement of the principalapparatus, showing the melting pots, the casting machines, conveyorsfrom the casting machines, automatic trimming presses, scrap conveyorfrom the trimming press to the melting pots, the vacuum producer and aircompressor, also the pig feeding devices for feeding in all the pigrequired over and above that supb plied by the scrap.

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary view showing one of the lead feederlines and the manner of keeping it at the proper temperature, as by theuse of gas burners. Ed

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates in a diagrammatical manner, the first steps in theprocess of making the molded article. it

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical arrangement oi the parts as illustrated inFigure 4, and wherein the break-down or melting pots and the castingpots are all on the same level.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but in 20 which the casting potsare on a lower level than the melting pots.

Figure 7 is a view of an operating valve used for controlling the levelof the molten metal in the pots. 25

Figure 8 is a part-sectional and part-elevational view of that part ofthe apparatus which automatically feeds the pig lead to the melting pot.

Figure 9 is a view of a part of the control apparatus shown in Figure 8.to

Figure 10 is an end view of the operating valve forming part of thecontrol mechanism shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is a view of the valve-operating mechanism which is shown inFigure 8.

Figure 12 is a section on the line li--lil of Figure ll.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the poufing head, showing itsrelation to the mold carried in the molding machine' at Figure 14 is asectional view on a reduced scale on the line i|8 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a part-elevational and part-see tional view of the moldingmachine.

Figure 16 is a view on the line lit-l6 of Figdd ure l5.

Figure 17 is a plan and part-sectional view of the molding machine shownin Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a view of the control valve used in connection with thepouring head shown in Figso ure 13. This view also shows a drivingmechanism including the cam for automatically operating this valve.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view showing how it is possible to disconnectany one of the casting a machines from the system without disturbing theoperation of the others.

' Figure 20 is a side-elevation showing a modified form ofvalve-operating mechanism, with safety device and its relation to thedie-block and molds for use with the mechanism shown in Figures 15 and1'7.

Figure 21 is a plan view of 'the valve-operating mechanism and safetydevice shown in Figure 20. Figure 22 is a side-elevation of thecam-follower mechanism shown in Figures 20 and 21.

Figure 23 is a plan view of the cam-follower mechanism shown in Figure22.

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view of the cam follower mechanism online 24-24 in Figure 22.

Figure 25 shows ,a special arrangement for disconnecting the operatingparts of the machine shown in Figure 15, from the main driving shaft.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to correspondingparts in the various views, and referring to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive;I, 2, and 3 illustrate melting pots, the sizes of which are so chosen.that any two of them will have sufficient capacity for melting down therequirements of the casting machines, thereby giving a reserve of onepot in case one should becom inoperative.

Between the melting pots I, 2, and 3, is connected a lead feeder line 4which acts to keep the pots l, 2, and 3 at substantially the same levelafter they have been filled. This is brought about due to the vacuumapplied to the pipe 5 by way 'of the pipe 6 connected to a vacuumpumping apparatus generally referred to as 1. The vacuum maintained onthese pipes by the vacuum pump apparatus 1, raises the molten metal tosome point 3 in the pipe 5 (see Fig. 4). If the .level in the pot 2 islowerthan the level in the pot the effective head of pot is thereforegreater than the eflective head of pot 2, the difference in the headbeing the pressure'whichmaintains a flow from pot to the pot 2. The

effective head of pot I gradually decreases with respect to theefiective head of pot 2 as the level of pot 2 approaches the level ofpot I, and the flow stops when the friction head in the piping betweenthe two pots is equal to the diflerence of the effective heads of potsand 2. When this point is reached, the lead is raised in the piping upto the previously mentioned point 9 and the system is in staticequilibrium. What has been said with respect to pot 2, also applies topot 3.

The regulation ofthe level of the lead in pot which in turn regulates"the level in pots 2 and 3 as described, is brought about through themedium of a valve 9 controlled by the float l0 (see Figs. 1 and 8). Whenthe float Ill drops sufliciently to open the valve 9, compressed airthrough the pipes H and I2 from the compressor '60 3 (see Fig; l), isbrought to the valve |4, which valve is normally open when the feedingmechanism to be described is in idle position. The valve H (see Fig. 8)is open toeither one side or the other of a piston in the cylinder 5,and

immediately pressure is applied to the piston, it starts the same inaction and operates the piston rod it (see Fig. 9) to which is attacheda pusher |1 preferably made up of a plurality of fingers or prongs, sothat the pusher |1 engages a pig H! which is at that moment in theposition shown in Figure 8. This pushes the pig l8 off the table l9,where it has been deposited by a conveyor 20, on to a swinging plate 2|which is pivoted at I 22. As soon as the pig hits 'the plate 2|, it isvery 18 gently deposited into the pot without any splash, because theaction of the plate 2| acts as a splash-preventing device. After the pig3 has been deposited into the molten metal in the pot the weight 23 actsto return the splash plate 2| to its normal position as shown in Figure8. 5

The forward motion of the piston rod I6 as described, carries with it anauxiliary rod 24 which is fastened to the pusher l1 (see Fig. 9). 0n therod 24 are carried a pair of collars 25 between which is positioned theend of a lever 10 2G pivoted at 21 on a stationary part of theapparatus. Attached to the same pivotal point 21 by means of lugs 28, isa tripping mechanism comprising a. trough-shaped device 29 which carriesa roller 30 free to roll from one end of the 15 trough to the other forthe purpose to be described.

.On one side wall of the trough are four pins 3|, 32, 33, and 34, thelength of which is more clearly illustrated in Figure 11. As the end ofthe 20 lever 26 is moved by the collars 25, the other end 35 of thelever engages the pin 33, moving the trough about the axis 21 until thetrough 29 gets to a position slightly above the horizontal, when theweighted roll 30 will roll to the opposite end 25 of the trough (shownin full lines in Fig. 8). The weight of the roller 30 therefore changesthe 'center of gravity of the trough-shaped device 29, hence imparting afurther movement to-;the trough 29, which then takes approximatelyjthe30 position shown in dotted lines. During this movement of the trough,the pin 3| engages the end of the control lever 36 which controls thevalve 14, moving the lever 36 to the dotted position to the right forallowing the air to be 35 transferred to the opposite side of the pistonin be noted in passing, that in Figure 10, the pipes from the valve 'i4are as indicated, 31 and 38, -"passing to opposite ends of the cylinderl5.

Referring to Figure 4, in the normal operation of the system; the valve39 is normally open, apso plying a vacuum as has been described through.the pipe 6 to pipe 5, and also to the pipes 40, 4|, 42, and tap-offpipes 43, from the pipe 4|. Due to the vacuum applied to the pipes asstated, the level in the casting pots 44 and 45 is maintained 55 in thesame manner as described for the pots 2, and 3. Due to the vacuum actingthrough the pipe 42 on the lead feeder lines 49 and 41 from the meltingpots to the casting pots, the level in pots 44 and 45 is brought to thesame 60 level as that in pots I, 2, and 3, for the same reasons aspreviously described.

In the diagrammatic view of Figure 5, we have shown an extra casting'pot48, and it is to be understood that any number of break-down and 5casting pots may be used.

As shown in Figure 6, the three casting pots 44, 48, and 45 may beplaced on a..lower level by use of a valve 49 (see Fig. '1) on one ofthe pots; for example, pot 44, and this valve, con- 7 trolled by thefloat 50, acts to keep the casting pots at uniform level by reason ofthe vacuum applied to the pipes as described. When the level of the leadin the pots 44, 48, and 45 comes up to the desired height, the floatvalve 50 causes aoiavar the two systems of pots on different levels tothe pressure of atmosphere, thus stopping the flow of lead. When thelevel of the lead in pots 46, GB, and 35 has dropped sufficiently-to,again cause float valve 50 to operate valve 59, the vacuum is applied tothe feeder line 46, causing the lead to syphon over as before.

If for any reason the valve, 9 should stick in open position and causethe pigs to feed into the pet I to the overflowing point, the valve 38(Fig. will shut off the vacuum and prevent the feed of lead to the otherparts of the system so that the overflow will be confined to the one potto which the valve 9 is attached. It is to be understood that all thepots are supplied with a source of heat to maintain them at the propertemperature, and in particular, the casting machine pots it and 65 arepreferably kept at the proper temperature, this heat being automaticallycontrolled to maintain them at this temperature. Furthermore, all pipelines carrying lead are also heated as illustrated in Figure 2; forexample, All (see also Fig. 4) is heated, by gas jets 5i supplied fromthe gas feed line 52. The parts of the mold may be supplied by anauxiliary source of heat so as tomaintain the mold atthe righttemperature for the incoming molten metal. This auxiliary source of heatmay be in the nature of electrical resistors set into the mold parts atthe desired point or points. These resistors may be thermostaticallycontrolled.

. Having now brought the molten lead or other metal to the casting pots,the operation of the casting apparatus will be described:

For the purpose of illustration, ten casting machines 53 are shown inFigure 1, but any number of machines may be used. Each casting machinehas its individual drive such as illustrated in Figure 18 by sprocketwheel as, but these drives, which are takenfrom a main driving shaft,are timed so that the machine delivers its finished product at theproper time for the reasons which will be later pointed out.

Each casting machine 53 is provided with a head 55 which is shown inperspective in Figure 13. A feed pipe 55 is brought to the pouring head55 from the main feeder pipe 31 (see Fig. 1). Connected to the top partof the pouring head, is a vacuum pipe Ell leading to the vacuum pump. Inthe pipe line 5'6, is a valve 58 (see Fig. 18) operated by a cam 59which is driven by the mechanism of the machine. When the cam 59operates the valve 58 through the lever 50, vacuurn is supplied to thepouring head through the pipe 51 and the lead is drawn through the pipe56 upwardly in the 'pipe 51, filling the space 5| (Fig. 14) up to alevel such as indicated by the broken line 64. When the vacuum in thepipe 5'! is broken by the cam 59 acting on the valve 58, the moltenmetal in the pipe 51 drops back into the space 6|, which forces therequisite amount over the pouring lip 63 into the mold, the metalfinally reaching the level indicated by the broken line 62, which is thenormal level of the molten metal in the pots, but which, however, isslightly below the pouring lip 63. When vacuum is applied to the pipe51, the molten metal is drawn upwardly'in this pipe to some pointindicated by the dotted line 64 as just mentioned, and this point -maybe varied so as to get the proper amount of material in the spacelil andthe pipes 51 of each machine. 1

Figure 18 shows one method of controlling the valve 58. An alternativemethod is shown in Figures 20 and 21, wherein the valve 58 is oper- Iated by lever llll the movement of which is con-. trolled by cam I02.Spring )3 acts, through lever till, to hold the cam roller HM (Fig. 23)in con- 5 tact with the cam I02. When the depression H0 in cam 12 comesunder the roller 504, the arm till is moved, thereby operating valve 58and causing the vacuum in the pouring head to be broken, thus droppingthe correct amount of lead into the mold as previously described.However, when the two parts 68 and Bi (Fig. of the mold are held' open,as shown at 15, for any reason, such as a grid refusing to be ejected atone corner, the end N8 of rod I06, fastened to 15 die-block 80 by meansof bracket I01, does not clear stop I09 which is fastened to lever illl,thus preventing the movement of lever llll, when the depression Hill ofcam I02 comesunder roller IN.

It is to be noted (see Figs. 22 to 25 inc.) that 20 the roller l M iscarried on a spindle H6 supported by block ill, positioned in aguide-way H8 formed between the guide members H9 and 128, the lower endof the guide-way H8 being closed by the bar l2! which is held to theparts H9 and I20 by screws W2. Positioned in the arm ml, is a spring M3,the tension of which may be regulated by adjustment screw 524 carried bythe block 5 H and extending into a recess in the arm ma, carrying thespring (123. The block it! also carries through the medium of a suitableinsulator 82?, a contact H2 which norinally is in engagement with thecontact ill resiliently mounted by means of the spring H5 in the armlfll but insulated therefrom by a suit- 5 able insulator H28. When themovement of the lever ml is prevented as' above described, the rollerN14, with its support block, is moved downward by the spring I23, as theroller llltl drops into the depression H0, thereby separating thecontacts ill and M2 which control an electrical circuit through asuitable relay, thus operating the device M3, which preferably is a G.E. Thrustor, a device that will actuate the bellcrank lever Me, which inturn throws out the clutch member l l5, thereby disengaging the moldingmachine from its main drive shaft, and stopping the molding mechanism,and preventing injury to the mold, as well as preventing the filling ofthe vent holes in the. mold, and the slapping of the molten metal overthe machine.

Referring to Figures 13 to 18 inclusive, after the metal has been drawnup in the pipe 51 by the applied vacuum, to the point M, the vacuum isbroken in pipe 5'Iby means of the same cam 59 and the valve 58,,allowingthe lead in the vertical pipe 51 to drop by gravity into the space cl,thereby causing the molten metal to pass under the edge 66 and upwardlythrough the space 65, and over the pouring lip 63, into the opening 67so of the die 68. At the same time, part of the lead which is droppedfrom the pipe 5'! into the space 6|, may run back into the pipe 56, therelative amount being determined by the resistance to the flow of thelead in the system. However, a check 5 valve, which preferably allowssome leakage past it, may be used in the pipe 56, that furtherintroduces resistance to the return surge, which condition may also betaken care of by making the pipe 56 of a smaller size or by otherwiseincreasing 70 the resistance to the flow of lead, the main point beingthat these surges shall be dampened out to the point where they are notobjectionable. By regulating the space 65 and the amount of opening 66in the die-head, as well as the volume of the :pipe 51 and the space 5|and the vacuum used, the amount of molten metal that is passed to thedie, and the time of pouring the metal is very accurately controlled andlittle or no metal is wasted.

The above description covers one manner in which the lead may be passedto the die-head, this use being based on allowing the lead in the headto be dropped to the level of the lead in the pot, the normal level ofthe lead in the pots being at a point just below the top edge of thepouring lip 53.

- Another manner in which the system may be used to pass lead into thedie 58, is by dropping .the level of the lead in the pipe 51 a givendistance and catching it, when the proper amount has passed over the lip53 into the die opening 51, by

re-applying the vacuum to the line 57 through.

the valve 58, which in turn is controlled by the proper design of thecam 59. This latter method of operation reduces to a minimum, the reflexaction of the lead in the pipe 56, which under some conditions ofoperation, might cause a second rebound fiow of a small quantity of leadover the lip 63 which, should it happen, is a waste of material thatnaturally interferes with the proper operation .of the system. As willbe appreciated, this is a rather important detail of our invention.

After a short interval allowed for cooling, which is assisted by coolingchambers around the. die itself, the cam 69 (see Fig. 15) acts on theroller attached to a lever H which in turn actuates the valve 12 toallow compressed air, coming from the compressor I 3 by the pipe 13, topass alternately through the pipes I4 and to the cylinder 16 withinwhicha piston is positioned and attached to a piston rod 11 connected totoggle links 18 and I9, thereby actuating these to move .the die block89, withdrawing a portion of the die -8l whereby the grid or piece isallowed to be removed from the die through the medium of the knock-outpins 82. These pins are actuated by .reason of the cam-nose 83 engagingrolls on the rods 85 fastened to a plate 86. The plate 86 is pivotallymounted at 81 andhas rolling connections 88 with rods 89 fitted withcompression springs 90 that are compressed when the cam 83 moves theplate 86 backwardly.

As soon-as the cam 83 drops from the rolls 84,

the springs 98 give a quick snap action through the rods 89 to a plate9| that carries a plurality of the pins 82, and these pins give the gridor the -part that has been molded; a quick tap, forcing it out of themold and causing it to come down on the guide member or chute '92 on tothe conveyor 93. I

Previously, reference was made to the timing of the casting machines,and it will now be evident that this is necessary because as the gridsorparts are ejected on to the conveyor 93 by each of the -moldingmachines, they mustbe put on the conveyor in proper order; that is, oneshould not be piled above the other, and we preferably synchronize thisoperation so that the plates are transferred from the castingmachines-to the conveyor substantially a uniform distance apart;

This synchronizing may, and preferably is done, through the medium ofthe clutch Ii 5 (Fig;

It is to be understood that the parts of the clutch mechanism H5 areprovided with arcuately spaced interlocking devices so that each of thecasting machines 53 is interconnected with its main drive at differentarcuate portions of said.

shaft.

v After the grids or molded devices have been 94 and 95. Preferably, thetrimming machines 5 94 and 95 are so arranged that either one may beusedwith either conveyor. The trimmers cut off the gates, fins, or any otherexcess material projecting from the cast pieces.

After the grids or cast pieces are delivered by 10 the trimmers 94 and95, they are automatically counted into a grid magazine which receives adefinite quantity of grids and are then automatically moved alonganother conveyor leading to storage, and its place taken by anotherempty 15 magazine automatically pushed into grid-receiving position.Also, passing from the trimming machines 94 and 95. is a conveyor systemindi cated by 98 which returns the scrap or rejects it from the trimmingmachines toa receiver 91, 20

commission whereby they cannot be operated.

In order to overcome this difficulty, we have provided an arrangementsuch as indicated in Figure 19, wherein an auxiliary pot 99 is insertedin the feed line-56 between it and the pouring head 55. The line 56between the main feeder and the auxiliary 99, is connected to the vacuumsystem through pipe )0. This maintains the level of the lead in the pct99 at the point I26, which is the level of the lead in the storage ,pots44 and 45. The valve 58 in line 51 (Fig. 18), is connected to line 55through pouring head 55, and the operation of the valve 58 is aspreviously described. It is to be understood that the level I26 of thelead in pot as, is always higher than the line .41, thus preventing theoverflow of the pot 99. By this-arrangement, it will be obvious that anyone of the individual pipes 55 may be quickly withdrawn from the pot 99,thereby cut-.

ting out' its associated castingmachine, and leaving the rest of thesystem in working order- While we have shown and described a completeoperative system for molding metal parts, it is apparent that thedetails may be varied over wide limits without departing from the spiritof our invention or thescope of the appended claims. Y For example,when'the valve 58 (Fig. 18). in pipe 51 is operated, as has beendescribed, to drop the moltenmetal back into the space 6| v(Fig. 14),the valve may let into the pipe 51, instead of .air, the hot. gasesv orproducts of combustion 'spaceli5 in the pouring head is relativelynarrow,- thereby exposing a very small area of the molten metal withinthe chambered space 6| to the air. Thus we have provided a pouring headwhich reduces the oxidation of the molten metal to a minimum, andconsequently the cast product is much more homogeneous and better byreason ill) abreast of the minimum amount of oxidized metal carried overfrom the pouring head into the mold.

The pouring head herein described, while specially designed for use inconnection with a system as described, may be used with a gravity systemwhereby a valve corresponding to the valve 58 may pass a predeterminedquantity of molten metal into the chamber M, as by means of a singlepipe 51. It is our intention to claim this type of pouring head for amolding system in a broad manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, whichconsistsin automatically passing, according to the rate of productiondesired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automaticallyconveying by a vacuum system the molten metal to separate castingmachine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots and maintaininga substantially constant level therein, and then transferring, by thesame vacuum system the molten metal to molds in the casting machines;automatically actuating said casting machines so only substantially theright amount of molten metal is passed to the mold, and thenautomatically ejecting the molded piece after a proper interval of time,and providing means for maintaining the molten metal at the propertemperature throughout the various steps specified.

2. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, whichconsists in automatically passing, according to the rate of productiondesired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automaticallyholding by a vacuum system the molten metal in the several pots tosubstantially a constant level while maintaining the temperature,conveying by the same vacuum system the molten metal to separate castingmachine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots andautomatically maintaining by the same vacuum system substantially aconstant level therein, while also maintaining the proper temperature,automatically passing a predetermined quantity of the molten metal fromsaid casting machine pots to a casting machine mold, and actuating saidmachine to eject themolded piece after a proper interval of time.

3. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, furthercharacterized in that after the piece has been ejected from the castingmachine, it is conveyed to a trimming apparatus and then automaticallytaken from the conveyor and passed through said trimming apparatus, thefinished piece then going to a storage magazine and the scrap going, viaanother conveyor,to said melting-down pots.

4. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, furthercharacterized in that means are provided for automatically stopping thecasting machine should a molded piece fail to be completely ejected fromthe mold, whereby the parts of the mold do not close during the cycle ofoperation.

'5. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, furthercharacterized in that an auxiliary pot is provided in the supply line toeach casting machine head, whereby the casting machine may be shut downwithout disturbing the rest of the system.

ing a pump, piping and valves acting to maintain substantially aconstant level of molten metal in all the pots, casting machinesprovided with molds, and automatic means for continually operating saidcasting machines, each of said 5 machines having a pouring headassociated with its respective mold and connected to said vacuum system,and means including parts of said vacuum system for automaticallyloading said pouring head with a predetermined and regulated quantity ofmolten metal and then passing it from the head to the mold.

7. For use with a metal casting machine in a molding system as set forthin claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating in 15 apouring lip leading to the mold, said chamber being continuously filledwith molten metal to a point just below the pouring lip, a supply pipe,and a vacuum pipe communicating with said chamber, a valve in saidvacuum pipe automatig0 cally operated for applying a suction to saidchamber, and means for operating said valve in a predetermined mannerfor the purpose described.

8. For use with a metal casting machine in a m molding system as setforth in claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating ina. pouring lip leading to the mold, a supply pipe, and a vacuum pipecommunicating with said chamber, a valve in said vacuum pipe auto- 30matically operated for applying a suction to said chamber, means foroperating 'said valve'in a predetermined manner to pass a proper amountof molten metal to the mold, said machine further having means foropening the mold and an ejecting the molded piece from the machine, andmeans acting automatically, should the mold fail to close in its cycleof operation, to prevent said valve from operating.

9. For use with a metal casting machine a w molding system as set forthin claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating in apouring lip leading to the mold, a supply pipe, and a vacuum pipecommunicating with said chamber, a valve in said vacuum pipeautomatically'operated for applying a suction to said chamber, means foroperating said valve in a predetermined manner to pass a proper amountof molten metal to the mold, said machine further having means foropening the mold and ejecting the molded piece from the machine, andmeans acting automatically, should the mold fail to close in its cycleof operation, to prevent said valve from operating, and furtherautomatic means for stopping the entire machine.

10. A metal vmolding system as set forth in claim 6, furthercharacterized in that means are provided for dampening out'the surges ofthe molten metal as it is periodically passed through said pouring head.

11. In a vacuum-controlled metal molding system, of the characterdescribed including, a plurality of casting machines provided withmolds; automatic means for operating said casting machines, each of saidcasting machines having a 5 pouring .head for passing the molten metalto the mold connected to said casting machine pots, said head containingat all times a quantity of molten metal positioned therein so a suctioncan be effectively applied to the head, a valve, said 7 chamber alsobeing connected through said valve with a source of suction, automaticmeans for operating said valve, said head being designed in associationwith the strength and length of application of the suction to said headso the y mold.

12. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system of the character describedand including casting machines as set forth in claim 11, furthercharacterized in that said casting machine automatically ejects themolded piece to a conveyor, said conveyor carrying said piece to atrimming mechanism, where the piece is trimmed and the scrap returned tosaid melting pots, and the finished molded piece to a storage magazine.

13. A vacuum-controlled metal molding sys tem of the character describedand including casting machines as set forth in claim 11, furthercharacterized in that said casting machine automatically ejects themolded piece to a conveyor, said conveyor carrying, said piece to atrimming mechanism, where the piece is trimmed and the scrap returned tosaid melting pots, and the finished molded piece to a storage magazine,further means; comprising an auxiliary pot for each casting machine andconnecting into the feed line to each machine; being provided forstopping any one of the casting machines without affecting the operationof the others.

14. In a vacuum-controlled metal molding system, a plurality of meltingpots, automatic means for feeding metal to at least one of said pots, a

plurality of casting machine pots separate and spaced apart from saidmelting pots, automatic means controlled by a vacuum system acting todistribute and maintain substantially a constant level of molten metalin all of'said pots, a plurality of casting machines provided withmolds, and automatic means for operating said casting machines includingmeans under the control of said vacuum system for passing metal to saidmolds, and control means whereby each machine delivers to a conveyor amolded-piece in tim'ed relation to all the other machines in the system.

15. A vacuum-controlled metal moldingsystem as set forth in claim 14,further characterized in that the pieces are carried on said conveyor toa trimming mechanism which trims said pieces anddelivers the scrap to aconveyor which returns the scrap to one of said melting pots, and thefinished pieces to another conveyor for storage. 7 g

16. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forth in claim 11,further characterized in that automatically acting means are provided atthe melting pot, receiving the rough metal, for preventing splashing ofthe molten metal as the rough metal is added.

17. A vacuum controlled metal molding system including; a plurality ofcasting machines having molds, a plurality of casting machine potsassociated with said casting machines, a plurality of melting pots,pipes inter-connecting said pots, vacuum means acting through certain ofsaid pipes for automatically equalizing the level of the molten metal inall of said pots and for passing the molten metal to said molds, meansforheating said pots and pipes carrying molten metal, means forautomatically. operating said casting machine, and automatic means forpassing rough metal to at least one of said melting pots, according tothe demand of the casting machines.

18. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forth in claim 17,further characterized in that the casting machines are provided with asynchronized so as to deposit the molded pieces in spaced relation onsaid conveyor.

19. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forthin claim 17,further characterized in that the casting machines are provided with aconveyor to carry away the molded pieces asthey are ejected by themachines, said machines being synchronized so as to deposit the moldedpieces in spaced relation on saidconveyor, and further characterized inthat said conveyor carries said 10 molded pieces to a trimmingmechanism, where they are trimmed and then passed to a storage magazine,while the scrap is automatically returned to one of said melting pots.

20. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system e as described includingsupply pots and casting machines, each machine being provided with apouring head through which the molten metal is automatically passed tothe mold, said head having a chamber designed to cooperate with the 10strength of vacuum and time of applying same to said chamber andcarrying molten metal therein at about the normal level of the metal inthe supply pots, whereby the proper quantity of molten metal may betransferred from thepots and passed to said mold.

21. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as described includingcasting machines, each machine being provided with a pouring headthrough which the molten metal is automatically :0 passed to the mold,said head having a chamber designed to cooperate with the strength ofvacuum and time of applying same to said chamber, whereby the properquantity of molten metal is passed to said mold, and furthercharacterized in" 85 that means are provided for minimizing surges ofthe molten metal through said pouring head chamber, and furthercharacterized in that each machine is provided with means forautomatically stopping the flow of molten metal through said pouringhead if the mold parts are not closed during the cycle of operationthereof.

22. In a metal molding system including a molding machine having a mold,a pouring head for the machine having a chamber and a lip and a narrowpassageway between a side of the chamber and a wall of the lip, a supplypipe entering said chamber, a pipe leading out of said chamber, meansfor applying suction at will to the last mentioned pipe to raise themolten metal therein to a predetermined height, and then dropping it,thereby causing a definite quantity of molten metal to pass over saidlip into the mold.

23. In a metal molding system as set forth in claim 22, in which saidmeans includesa valve having a connection to a source of gas containingless oxygen than air, said gas being introduced into the suction pipe bysaid valve when the valve is operated to break the vacuum.

24. For a metal molding machine, a pouring head having a chamber and alip and a narrow passageway from the chamber to the lip, a supply pipeleading into said chamber, and a suction pipe leading out of the top ofthe chamber as and for the purposes described.

' 25. For a metal molding machine having a mold; a fixed pouring headhaving a chamber and a. lip and a passageway between a side of thechamber and a wall of the lip, and a suction supply pipe leading intosaid chamber for passing a predetermined quantity of molten metal oversaid lip into the mold.

26. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, whichconsists in automatically passing, according to the rate of productiondesired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automaticallyholding by a vacuum system the molten metal in the several pots tosubstantially a constant level while maintaining the temperature,conveying by the same vacuum system the molten metal to separate castingmachine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots andautomatically maintaining by the same vacuum system substantially aconstant level therein, while also maintaining the proper temperature,and automatically passing a predetermined quantity of the molten metalfrom said casting machine pots to a casting machine mold.

JAMES QUINN. EDWIN D. MARTIN.

